Wafer level polarization control elements

Abstract

Polarization control elements are created on a wafer level using patterns formed on the surface of a substrate. These polarization control elements may be the same across the wafer or may be any desired differing orientations. The polarization elements may also be selectively provided on portions of the substrate. The polarization control elements may be integrated with other elements on the wafer level and then singulated.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An optical device comprising: 
 a substrate containing at least two elements;    a polarization control element including a pattern formed on a surface of the substrate; and    a lithographically created element on the substrate.    
     
     
         2 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the lithographically created element is a lens.  
     
     
         3 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the lithographically created element is another polarization control element.  
     
     
         4 . The optical device of  claim 3 , wherein the another polarization control element is presents a different degree of rotation than the polarization control element.  
     
     
         5 . The optical device of  claim 4 , wherein the lithographically created element is a phase retarder.  
     
     
         6 . The optical device of  claim 5 , wherein the phase retarder is on an opposite surface, as the polarization control element.  
     
     
         7 . The optical device of  claim 3 , wherein another polarization control element and the polarization control element are on the same surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         8 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern is in a material on the surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         9 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern is created using lithography.  
     
     
         10 . An optical device comprising: 
 a first polarization control element including a first pattern on a surface of a substrate; and    a second polarization control element including a second pattern on the surface of the substrate, the first and second patterns being different from one another.    
     
     
         11 . The optical device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second patterns is created using lithography.  
     
     
         12 . The optical device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second patterns is in a material on the surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         13 . The optical device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second patterns is in the surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         14 . The optical device of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second polarization control elements have different orientations from one another.  
     
     
         15 . The optical device of  claim 14 , wherein the orientations are orthogonal.  
     
     
         16 . An optical system comprising: 
 a first substrate receiving a light beam from a light source;    a second substrate secured to the first substrate;    an optical isolator in a path of the light beam, the optical isolator including; 
 a first polarization control element including a first pattern on one of the first and second substrates or any substrate secured thereto,  
 a second polarization control element including a second pattern on one of the first and second substrates or any substrate secured thereto, and  
 a non-reciprocal mechanism between the first and second polarization elements;  
   a lithographically created element on one of the first and second substrates or any substrate secured thereto.    
     
     
         17 . The optical system of  claim 16 , wherein the lithographically created element is a splitter.  
     
     
         18 . The optical system of  claim 16 , wherein the lithographically created element is a lens.  
     
     
         19 . The optical system of  claim 16 , wherein the lithographically created element is a phase retarder.  
     
     
         20 . A method of making an optical device, the method comprising: 
 forming a plurality of polarization control elements on a first substrate, each polarization control element including a pattern on a surface of the first substrate;    aligning a second substrate to the first substrate;    securing aligned first and second substrates; and    singulating secured first and second substrates to form dies including at least one polarization control element.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising lithographically forming optical elements on at least one of the first and second substrates before said aligning.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising forming another plurality of polarizing elements on the second substrate and sandwiching a non-reciprocal mechanism between the pluralities of polarizing elements on the first and second substrates before said aligning.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the non-reciprocal mechanism is a plurality of discrete mechanisms and said sandwiching includes securing the non-reciprocal mechanisms to one of the first and second substrates before said singulating.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising lithographically forming lens elements on at least one of the first and second substrates before said aligning.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising forming further polarization control elements on the one of the first and second substrates before said aligning.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said forming further polarization control elements includes forming further polarization control elements on the first substrates opposite the plurality of polarization control elements.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said forming includes using lithography in creating the pattern.  
     
     
         28 . A method of making an optical device, the method comprising: 
 creating a first polarization control element on a surface of a substrate, the first polarization control element including a first pattern on the substrate; and    creating a second polarization control element on the surface of the substrate, the second polarization control element including a second pattern on the substrate, the first and second patterns being different.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising singulating the substrate to form dies including at least one polarization control element.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said creating of the first and second polarization control elements includes using lithography.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising lithographically creating an element on the substrate.